Transatlantic Ship Travel -Not a Cruise

Cunard's QM2 does trans-Atlantic crossings, NYC to Southampton and vice-versa, but not in 3 or 4 days! Come on! In fact I received an offer from Cunard 10 days ago for a crossing in December, a balcony stateroom, for $799! The crossing is 7 days.

Don't know how long it takes but friend's daughter went from New York to Europe on a cargo ship years ago as a passenger. Do some research on the web to see what is out there. Maybe google "cargo ship transportation" or something like that. Good luck.

I'm not sure what options there are other than cruise ships, but I can give you a little insight about the crossing itself. My parents went on a crossover cruise about a year ago. It originated in Miami, I think, and ended in England. During the four days they were crossing the Atlantic, the seas were rough and the weather was bad. Both of my parents were a little freaked out by being on the boat with no land in sight for that long, both were seasick, and both said they would never want to do it again. They have been on numerous cruises, but this was completely different, they said. I'm not sure I would have the same reaction, but I'm also not sure that, based on their experience, I would want to try it, either.

I doubt that any ship apart from fast Navy war ships can cross the Atlantic in four days. The experience on an ocean voyage depends upon the weather, the size of the ship and an individual's susceptibility to motion sickness. The transatlantic voyage we took was enjoyable. The long days at sea were very relaxing and the food was great.

Are you stuck on Europe? You can get nice Caribbean cruises or cruises to Bermuda for 3-4 days or maybe you can take a short cruise in Med. Sea for 4 days by flying to Naples or some other port city if really want European cruise.

Crossing in 4 days? You're surely kidding. Some freighters make the crossing and carry passengers but they generally cost as much as cruises. We have been on 6 transatlantics and enjoyed them all, had bad weather on only 2 but suffered no ill effects.

Polish Ocean Lines used to operate RORO container vessels between Le Havre (France) and New York, but I think they ceased trading. (My Dad used them when he took his camper to the US,)
Roger

I did the crossing from New York to Southampton both ways many times in the 1950s and 1960s before jets really took off (pun intended). Most crossings were 5 days, the SS United States could make it in 4 when pushed and chased the Blue Riband. You would have to really be cranking to do it in 3. These days when crossings are more like cruises they never do it in 4. You've never lived until you are 24 or so knots in the SS United States going hell for leather across the Irish Sea and North Atlantic in storms especially in winter.

Ships (which can't hydroplane) can only move (max) at hull speed which is calcualated by 1.34 X sqrt of the length at the waterline. I have no idea what the lwl of a cruise ship is, but will assume 500 feet for grins. That makes it close to thirty knots. Even if it has enough power to push it that fast, it can't afford to, so assume two-thirds power, now it's twenty knots. Toss in four knots for the average Gulf Stream speed and you're back up to twenty-four. New York to Southhampton or LeHavre is about thirty-five hundred miles, but you can't haul tail in the New York approaches or the English Channel, so push it back down to a twenty knot average or four eighty a day - - seven days and a little bit. I have no idea how to calculate tailwinds on a hull. Nigel's dope is undoubtedly correct. Those ships were long and ran at max-bore because the money was so lucrative. Plus gas was a tad cheaper. For the record, aircraft carriers only go a bit under thirty-five wide open. Quit looking, it doesn't exist.

Thanks everyone! That was very helpful, Ed. I did take a 24hr ferry from France to Ireland on rough seas and it was quite a rollicking trip!
Flying sounds like a better choice. I'll remember to look down at the ocean.